Liquid Discharging Apparatus and Method of Discharging Liquid

Abstract

A liquid discharging apparatus, which discharges liquid from a nozzle of a liquid discharging head on the basis of data, includes a controller and a member. When the controller is in a standby state where the liquid is not discharged from the nozzle on the basis of the data or after the controller has received a power OFF instruction, the controller performs a drawing operation in which the liquid is drawn to a side opposite to a discharge direction in which the liquid is discharged so as to at least form a space at a distal end portion of the nozzle. After the controller has performed the drawing operation, the member covers an opening of the nozzle.

Description

[0001]This application is a Division of application Ser. No. 12 / 165,862, filed Jul. 1, 2008, and is expressly incorporated herein by reference. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-174305, filed Jul. 2, 2007 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-113048, filed Apr. 23, 2008, are expressly incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]The present invention relates to a liquid discharging apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a controller and a method of controlling the discharging apparatus.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]An ink jet printer is one example of a liquid discharging apparatus currently known in the art. Typically, ink jet printers perform a printing process by discharging a liquid ink from a plurality of nozzles of a head onto various types of medium, such as paper, cloth, or film.[0006]Unfortunately, however, when the openings of the nozzles are exposed to the atmosphere, there is ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a liquid discharging apparatus and method that can seal the openings of nozzles without damaging the liquid inside them. The apparatus also uses a cap that doesn't stick too well to the head. This helps to prevent leakage and ensures efficient liquid discharging.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, however, when the openings of the nozzles are exposed to the atmosphere, there is a possibility that moisture, which acts as a solvent of the ink, may evaporate at the distal end portions of the nozzles where the ink is exposed to the external air.

This thickening not only adversely affects the amount of ink discharged and the positions at which ink lands but also causes clogs in the nozzles when the ink becomes too thick.

One problem with this configuration, however, is that there are many technical problems, such as squashed nozzles, that need to be addressed in order to form the above described box-shaped cap member of a sufficient length.

In this case, there will be a step between the connecting portions of the head units, making it difficult to bring the cap member into close contact with the head.

However, as the flat face of the flat plate member is brought into close contact with the nozzle forming face, because the liquid level of ink is positioned adjacent to the nozzle openings, there is a possibility that, when the flat plate member closely contacts the nozzle forming face, the flat face of the flat plate member may contact the ink and thereby break the menisci of ink.

In addition, when the cap member does not closely contact the head, there has been a problem that ink in the nozzles of the head dries and then thickens.

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